Future Indian Navy and French Navy Aircraft Carriers Likely to be Fitted with EMALS & AAG

During the Navy League's Sea-Air-Space 2017 exposition held recently near Washington D.C., General Atomics was showcasing its Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) for aircraft carriers. Navy Recognition learned during the show that General Atomics received export approval for EMALS and AAG to the Indian Navy. The Brazilian Navy, French Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force have also shown interest in those technologies according the the company.

Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) was fitted first onboard head of class USS Gerald R. Ford. Picture: General Atomics

The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) is designed to replace steam catapult system currently used on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is the first carrier to use EMALS. Due to its flexible architecture, the electromagnetic aircraft launch system can launch a wide variety of aircraft weights and can be used on a variety of platforms with differing catapult configurations.

The electric motor-based Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) system provides for aircraft deceleration during aircraft carrier recovery operations. AAG allows for arrestment of a broad range of aircraft, reducing manning and maintenance, and provides higher reliability and safety margins. AAG's design uses simple, proven energy-absorbing water turbines coupled to a large induction motor for fine control of the arresting forces.

Video: General Atomics EMALS and AAG at Sea Air Space 2017.

General Atomics has in talks with India regarding export of both technologies for the Indian Navy IAC-2 program. The "indigenous aircraft carrier number 2" program is an Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) project to build a 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier for the Indian Navy. In July 2015, a Letter of Request (LoR) was sent to at least four companies: BAE Systems, DCNS, Lockheed Maritn and Rosoboronexport. EMALS and AAG would likely be fitted on the American, French and British (if CATOBAR configuration is retained) carrier designs.

IAC-2 would then be the first Indian Navy aircraft carrier fitted with catapults and arresting gear, allowing for the launch and recovery of heavier aircraft including AWACS (Hawkeye).

General Atomics explained to us that both technologies are platform independent: AAG and EMALS will work on large or smaller carriers, nuclear or conventionally powered.

DCNS Evolved Aircraft Carrier (DEAC).

During Euronaval 2016, General Atomics and DCNS had discussions about EMALS and AAG for both the future French Navy (Marine Nationale) needs and export prospects of DCNS aircraft carrier design. In addition, we learned that DCNS CEO Hervé Guillou would visit General Atomics in San Diego this summer. During Sea-Air-Space 2017, Rear Admiral Chaineau, in charge of French Navy future programs, was at the head of a delegation which was briefed by General Atomics on EMALS and AAG.

General Atomics excepts the next step will be discussions between the French government and the US government about exportability, but with India getting cleared, export approval should not be an issue for France.

France is in the middle of elections right now, however the two candidates remaining for the second turn, Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, have both voiced their interest in acquiring a second aircraft carrier or aircraft carriers to replace the Charles de Gaulle:

According to La Cordeliere, Emmanuel Macron spoke of the rapid launch of studies on a new aircraft carrier so that it would be ready before Charles de Gaulle decommissioning by 2040. According to her program, Marine Le Pen promises to start building a second aircraft carrier called Richelieu, essential to the permanence at sea of the French carrier strike group.
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EMALS is something that requires money, and we don't have money for things like this when we can buy it. All we want is one carrier for now, there is no way DRDO can justify the R&D expenditure for 1 carrier. The money is better spent elsewhere.

Even you guys purchased steam catapults from the Americans for the CdG for pretty much the same reason.

But we can still work on other technologies that use electromagnetism. So when the time comes to build more carriers, we can develop our own quicker, based on our experiences with the American EMALS. Until then, let the Americans deal with the headache of making a working model.

EMALS is something that requires money, and we don't have money for things like this when we can buy it. All we want is one carrier for now, there is no way DRDO can justify the R&D expenditure for 1 carrier. The money is better spent elsewhere.

Even you guys purchased steam catapults from the Americans for the CdG for pretty much the same reason.

But we can still work on other technologies that use electromagnetism. So when the time comes to build more carriers, we can develop our own quicker, based on our experiences with the American EMALS. Until then, let the Americans deal with the headache of making a working model.

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For long term we need to invest in EMALS technology as this same technology is used for RAIL GUN and also Civil use for MAGLEV trains. I do understand we can save money by directly buying it from US but it is better to invest in indigenous EMALS like what China is doing (of course they do have MAGLEV which is helping them with EMALS).

To me we should rather go for one more IAC-1 sister ship before going for Vishal class which could be made by 2035 using Indian EMALS, giving enough time to develop it. Money saved on IAC-1 class instead of Vishal class carrier could be utilized to bolster Submarine fleet by making 6 SSN (a single EMAL Cost is $2 billion and Vishal needs 2 so $4 billion for just EMALS CATS enough to fund 6 SSN) which is the weakest link in our naval defence.

The EMALS catapult replaced the steam-powered catapult system, and has had its share of problems. By the time aircraft compatibility tests ended in April 2014, and more than 3,000 dead-load launches were added to the mix, EMALS had a reliability rate of 240 launches without failure. That was far short of the 1,250 launches the system should have been hitting at that point.

While not going into details, Gilmore’s memo stated the carrier's AAG for snagging landing aircraft and her launch system, both made by San Diego-based General Atomics, are experiencing “different, but still inadequate levels of reliability.”

The EMALS’ reliability is higher, but “nonetheless I have concerns,” Gilmore wrote, citing recent Navy data that the carrier can conduct only 400 launches between critical failures – “well below the requirement” of 4,166 take-offs.

It seems there is a lot of convergence between India and France in terms of future strategic preperations (Rafale, SSNs, carriers etc etc) as well as the intent to protect their own autonomy. I hope both sides can appreciate this and look to work together and build on one another's strengths so as to collectively punch well above each party's weight, this could be a partnership that defines the next 50 years.

+ @Picdelamirand-oil any ideas on what the French Navy would want from their next generation carrier in terms of propulsion and tonnage?

It's the first new design for an aircraft launching system is 5 decades. It'll be rectified

Ford isn't scheduled to be operational until 2021 and the second ship in the class will make changes from lessons learned from the first ship, as is standard practice for ship classes (look at the difference between LCS-1 and LCS-3).

Interestingly, DCNS evolved carrier is to have the approximately same displacement as INS Vikrant but with CODLAG propulsion.

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The classic propulsion is because it is easier to export.

For French needs, the two remaining candidates for the presidential election want to start studies as soon as possible for the construction of a new aircraft carrier. Propulsion will be chosen in these studies.